The nation of Cheliax is on the rise. Former outlying provinces to the north are returning to its banner. In the southeast of the realm of Varisia, the city-state of Korvosa has been strengthening its ties, and more Hellknights of the Order of the Nail have been sighted throughout the region. The goblins of the Hold of Belkzen have taken to raiding the regions eastern frontier more frequently as well, and with greater success than ever before. During less interesting times, the corrupt Lord Mayor of the rival city-state Magnimar could do as he wished, but with the new threats brewing nearby, the Council of Ushers has removed Haldmeer Grobaras from power and installed a replacement by the name of Devis Thraine. Thraine is a member of an ancient lineage of sorcerers among the historic nobility of Taldor, a major rival of Cheliax with whom Magnimar has made a defensive pact. In looking for ways to preserve the balance of power, Thraine has spent a great deal of time researching the history of the fallen empire of Thassilon which once ruled much of the northern world. He is keen on rediscovering the ancient power used by that civilization and developing it for the benefit of Magnimar.

An artifact known as the Emerald Crown, which belonged to one of the Thassilonian kings and was later plundered, has been traced to somewhere in the Bloodsworn Vale on the trade route between Cheliax and Korvosa. Fearing it could fall into the wrong hands, Lord Mayor Thraine has secretly dispatched a band of adventurers to retrieve the Crown...

She's a traveling performer whose main goal is to see as much of the world as she can. Learning to play the lute and becoming proficient in rapier combat she set off to see the world and make a name for herself.

An elf located in a forest, he was newly of age, having just hit his 11th decade. Eager to see what was outside of the elven village, he traveled many times to the edge of the forest, seeking what was beyond the trees. In time, he came to a hut, as close to the forest as it was to a nearby human settlement. There, he discovered an old wise woman, a user of an occult magic that was new to him. Indulging his curiosity, she allowed him to watch as villagers would bring their wounded and sick to her - her esoteric practices somehow producing the exact effect she desired, healing the wounded and curing the sick. And when it came to the people who hated her more than they appreciated her, all it took was a declaration of what would befall them, and it did, as they foundthemselves sickened by some of the very maladies that they often came to her to be cured of. He even earned the trust of her cat, who would often follow her as closely as her own shadow. In time, he began to visit her more and more, until she offered to teach him the sort of magic that his own people shunned, witchcraft.

He studied under her, marveling at her stalwart spirit. She told him of the coven she belonged to when she was younger. She told him of the moon, and how the trees and animals whispered to her as any elf. And together, they would dance under the moon.

Unfortunately, though she was younger than him, she was old by human standards, and soon after learning everything that could be taught about witchcraft, she passed away, leaving him alone in a human village, having distanced himself from his own elven village. Her familiar, the cat he had always seen her with, had vanished. It was about this time, fallen asleep after a night full of grief, that he felt a presence - an entity that sought to teach him wisdom, as it taught her. He accepted, and awoke to find another mind touching his - that of a seemingly simple toad. Gathering himself, he gathered her materials and with the aid of his familiar, began to put what he learned into practice, steadily learning the ways of the witch, guided by his mysterious patron.

28 years later, he finally achieved a competent skill in his witchcraft. It was at this point that, in another dream, his patron told him to find his way elsewhere. If he hoped to help the denizens of this village, he must become more powerful, and he would not gain his power in this village. Gathering his supplies, his master's athame and spell components bag, and the crossbow he had purchased from a local craftsman, he set off to seek out the power that would allow him to truly succeed his mentor.

The initiative boost given by Warrior of Old is due to her keen senses and years spent as a hunter and scout.Sacred Touch is a trait inherently present in a minority of this particular elf population, usually manifesting shortly after puberty. All members of the tribe's druidic circle have it, and anyone who demonstrates it is seen as having been called to become a druid.

Mountain lions are, on average, larger than leopards, but smaller than lions. Depending on the individual mountain lion, either set of stats could potentially apply. This one uses the "lion/tiger" stats rather than the "leopard/cheetah" stats, so it would be a large male.

Quote from: Background

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Siella comes from an isolated tribe of wild elves living deep in the forest. She was an unusual child, preferring the solitude of the wilderness to the company of other elves, preferring to hunt with her father rather than gather berries with her mother, developing crushes on girls just as often as on boys, and questioning everything she was taught. Very curious about the natural world, she would often disappear into the wilderness for long periods of time. She spent most of her youth as a hunter and scout, developing keen senses and honing her interest in nature to an instictive familiarity.

When Siella approached her 90th birthday, she began to manifest the extraordinary healing abilities that characterized the druids of the tribe, and as per tradition was initiated into their cirlcle, instructed in the use of magic, and taught the secret Druidic language. This druidic circle believes in maintaining the balance of nature as its primary goal, and is suspicious of "unnatural" arcane magic, believing it to be dangerous to said balance.

Upon completion of her training, Siella was sent out for the trial required of all potential members of the circle. She would leave the tribe for an indefinite period of years, accompanied by an animal guide, and make her way in the outside world. Her current task is to learn the customs of the world outside her tribe, experience its ways of life, and ultimately bring back some of its knowledge to benefit the tribe. Siella also waits for the call home, a final spiritual test whose form is unique to every individual undertaking the trial. Passing the test allows her to return as an honored leader in the druidic circle, while failing leads to more years spent outside the tribe until a new opportunity presents itself in time. It is generally believed that less than half of those sent out have returned.

Traits:Child of the Temple (+1 bonus on Knowledge (nobility) and Knowledge (religion), Knowledge (nobility) becomes a class skill)Student of Philosophy (Can use my Int modifier in place of my Cha modifier on Diplomacy checks ot persuade others and on Bluff checks to convince others that a lie is true)

Born from a rich family and put into the priesthood at an early age, Gerhardt has served at a temple since before he was a teenager, and his own nobility only furthered his knowledge of the customs. In his work as a high-ranking church official as well, he's spent much time learning logic and reason for Student of Philosophy.

Gerhardt Albin Richtfeld Schwarz was born to a rather wealthy family. As the second son of that family, he went into the priesthood, and attained a fairly high rank in the Church of Sarenrae. I'm afraid I can't find the exact ranks for that church, but he's somewhere below a bishop and above a pastor. In any case, he's recently become a bit worried about the potential of abuse by the adherents of the Church, and has disguised himself as a humble cleric, Gars, obstensibly out to explore the land and spread the holy word and healing of Sarenrae. His real motive, however, is to find out about the church and to make sure the priests of the church aren't abusing the population.

Background:Aven the Hunter. A name to strike fear into the heartsof all that see him. Or would if Aven had any form of areputation that is.Unlike his merchant marine parents, Aven seeks thefiner things in life. And those things can only be foundby finding some poor soul's head and turning it in for aheafty bounty. With his raptor companion Ironbite, Avenseeks to make a name for himself. Mainly but puttingholes in a whole lot of people.

The entire city had been transformed, it seemed, for the solstice festival. Market tents selling unusual items had sprung up overnight, games and celebrations were going on all day. Despite the recent publicized disappearance of Senior Priest Gerhardt from the proceedings for his trip to Absalom in the south, the traditional drama of the defeat of the chaos god Rovagug at the hands of fair Sarenrae was performed admirably.

However, dark times lay ahead for the group of adventurers hired by Lord Mayor Thraine in secret for the dangerous mission to Korvosa. This day was one of farewell, and a time to prepare for challenges ahead.

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The promised reward for returning the Emerald Crown is 10,000 gold pieces. Thraine has given 150 in advance to each of you for expenses, so use it wisely in town. When you are ready to leave, I'll advance the plot.

Siella will buy Hide armor (-15 gp) for herself, selling her old leather for half price (+5 gp), and, if she can find it, Studded Leather Barding for her companion (-100 gp). She will have 47 GP left over.

I've got Survival and will be pumping the hell out of my wisdom anyway. We should be alright, as, if I take 10, I have a 20 and can feed myself and five others, right out of the gate. I'll even have enough to feed my mountain lion.

You guys can go around and interact with the people of the town and other things at his point in addition to buying supplies. Who knows, you might stumble onto some interesting hints you could use later. A few Knowledge checks couldn't hurt either if you have questions.